State Assembly Member - District 79
Chantel Jackson
Has represented Assembly District 79 in the Bronx since Jan. 1, 2021, and is in her third term; she was re-elected in 2024 with 80.1% of the vote.
Issues Chantel is raising
Health care and medical decisions
Co-sponsored and voted for the medical aid in dying bill, signed into law in February 2026, and voted against A10711, which ties the state's childhood vaccine requirements to recommendations of medical groups such as the American Academy of Pediatrics rather than to federal guidance; it passed the Assembly 90-48 and became law in May 2026. Voted for a 2025 law shielding people who provide or receive legally protected health care from other states' penalties. Sponsored a 2026 law setting one set of licensing standards for integrated behavioral health services, plus bills on lactation-consultant coverage and breast reconstruction information.
Criminal justice and prisons
Sponsored a 2025 law barring correctional facilities from denying entry to certain peer support advocates because of their prior incarceration, which passed the Assembly 147-0. Voted for a 2025 omnibus law on state correctional services.
Schools and special education
Sponsored a 2024 law extending state provisions that carry out the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. Voted for the 2024-25 state budget bill covering education, labor, housing and family assistance.
Housing and tenant notices
Sponsored a 2024 law requiring landlords to give tenants notice of bed bug infestations.
Utility service and consumer protection
Sponsored a 2024 law requiring providers of vital services, including gas, to coordinate and work quickly to restore service when it is interrupted. Voted for 2026 laws on gas service to new customers and on the attorney general's power to act against unfair, deceptive and abusive business practices.
Background
Before office she spent nine years working with low-income, first-generation students on college access and financial aid and four years as a social worker in New York City public high schools.
- Member of the New York State Assembly for District 79 since Jan. 1, 2021; now in her third term
- Won the seat in the November 2020 general election with 89.8% of the vote; re-elected in November 2022 with 87.1% and in November 2024 with 80.1%
- Chair of the New York State Legislative Women's Caucus (as of June 2025)
- Chair of the Assembly's Black Task Force and of the Subcommittee on Micro Business
- Member of the Assembly committees on Banks, Cities, Education, Housing, Mental Health and Small Business
- Member of the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic & Asian Legislative Caucus, the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force and the Task Force on Women's Issues
- Her Assembly biography says that as chair of the state Black Legislative Task Force she helped secure a $30 million investment for underserved communities, and that she championed legislation on adolescent offender cases, including changes to guilty pleas and more transfers of cases to Family Court
- Organized two buses of Bronx students to attend Invest Fest in Atlanta in August 2024 and hosted The Next Wave Career Summit for students in February 2026
- Social worker in New York City public high schools for four years
- Worked nine years with low-income, first-generation students on college access and financial aid
- Bachelor's degree in psychology, City College of New York; Master of Social Work, Adelphi University
- Born in Harlem
Support
No endorsements beyond the Democratic nomination were found as of Sept. 30, 2026.
Money
$65K
raised
Top donors: Foster Care Champions New York, Darin Goldstein, Zillow Group New York State PAC
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